Windows 7 –My Install and Comments

I started with a fresh install of a clean hard drive. Personally if you are going through the trouble of installing a new operating system it’s best to always start with a fresh install. 

I rebooted the computer booted from the DVD and it was off. It really only seemed to take a 15-20 min to copy files and restart. It may have restarted twice but it was pretty quick. Eventually I got to the part with a blue background image and there was a mouse cursor. This is the only complaint with the install it sits there for many minutes more than 5 with no hint if it is working or locked up; can’t even really hear the hard drive. Then text came up had me enter in my CD-key and pick what version I want to install; and I picked Ultimate. I don’t think that is normal I have an MSDN license and I can install any version; all versions are on the disk anyways. Over all the install was a lot quicker and cleaner than I expected.

Once I was up and running it asked to create a login name and the usual set up questions about automatic updates.  Then it quickly starts to download the latest updates.  Before I even noticed it had maybe 10 updates ready to install.  I was impressed by how fast and light the operating system felt.  It was a lot easer to get around and figure out where you want to go. Just about anywhere in Windows 7 you can just type in the search box what you want and it will find it.  Example: they renamed add and remove programs to Programs and Features.  I typed in the search Add and remove programs and that was an option and it took me to Programs and features.

There are several new features in Windows 7; the Libraries are nice but I would have liked a little more information about what are the best practices for how to use it.  For non-savvy computer users the added layer of libraries on top of folder management may be a lot to deal with.  For documents should I put everything in the my documents folder in other folders or create other folders in the users folders and add them to documents library.  Both have advantages and disadvantages.

The new Task Bar is really great work.  Once you get the hang of being able to tell what is running and what isn’t it is great. I like that close all windows seems to work all the time.  It was always grayed out in XP. 

The tray icons being moved into the little window was great.  I hate those icons and now every program insists on using them. 

The start menu has a few changes. I am so glad they got rid of My recent documents on the start menu that was useless; now each program had an arrow and a list of recent files.  They simplified the shutdown / restart options in Vista it was a mess.  I sometimes feel that options are missing from the start menu but after looking the only thing I keep looking for that is not there is Admin tool and Network and I added those back in.

The biggest issue I had was deciding whether or not to install 64bit or 32bit.  I decided on 32bit but I had having some regrets.  I am using the Windows XP Mode which is a fancy term for Windows Virtual PC. I believe the difference is that with Windows 7 Professional or higher you get the XP image free.  With that running Windows 7 is using 1.5GB of ram not a big deal over all but with a 3.23 GB usable limit with 32bit OS ram could become an issue.  Since I only have 4GB installed I did not want to run the 64bit OS since it and other application would use a lot more ram vs running under 32bit.  My opinion is you need at least 6Gb of ram to see any benefit from 64bit OS.  My current plan is to keep the 32bit until Office 2010 comes out since it will have a 64bit option.

In conclusion I would recommend if you have the hardware to run Windows 7 you should certainly upgrade and if you have or can get 6Gb of ram or more I’d install the 64bit version.

Dallas / San Antonio /"Lake" / NIOSA Trip

I am now back from the round trip leaving Nashville to Dallas to San Antonio to "The Lake" Back to Dallas and then back to Nashville. It was nice to be back in Dallas to visit with family. It was also nice to work in the Plano office with my coworkers again. I really enjoyed being able to see Zoe my Niece. She is now 6 months old and cuter than ever. Check out these photos:

ZOE

Niosa this year was a lot of fun. We planed out the day pretty good and got to watch the parade for an hour than headed over to NIOSA for some food. The food was so good, just as I remembered. It was busy but not so crowded that we could not go where we wanted. I did here one of the gate people say there was 43k people in there; don't know if that is true or not but I guess it could be. I do need to get out at try a few new things there. This trip was pretty much the things that I new and loved. Here are some pictures from San Antonio and from Niosa:

SA and NIOSA 2009

The trip was pretty hard with all the driving and constantly running around visiting with people, rock band party, happy hours, lunch and dinners with friends and family. The really hard part was all of the driving. Here are some stats from our driving:
2377.6 Total miles driven entire trip.
43:01hrs Total time car was running.
26.1 MPG for whole trip.
55 AVG MPH for trip.

With some creative math that comes out to 91.1 gallons used and with an average price of 1.899 that comes out to $173.00 in gas for the trip. I can tell you that 43 hours in the car was not the highlight of the trip but I think it was well worth it.

I mentioned above that we went by the lake on the way home and I got some pictures and I put them in the Lake pictures album. Lake house pics

One additional note on the way back after we left Memphis Jessica was driving and she changed lanes back to the right lane and just as she did a maroon SUV rushed by on the shoulder and a few seconds later four cop cars past us on on the left going quite fast and with the lights and sirens going.. The chase was quickly out of our view and we never saw another sight of it again. Not sure what happened but Jess may have almost run the person off the road she does not recall seeing the red suv behind her when she started to change lanes but then we both suddenly heard it speed past.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

This is a nice visual of the current credit crises. Thanks Rhett.


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

AK47

This is one of the best monologues I can think if. It is from the movie Lord of War and it is about the AK-47. Likely the best standard issue assault rifle ever made. It's the best because it is completely simple to use and always works. Do you have your’s yet, I do.

Big Bang Theory

This post has a little of everything. I love the show "Big Bang Theory". It has a great mix of comedy for all and comedy for some. The characters have their own identity and some depth. The writing is good; they always seem to come up with a funny sarcastic comment or two that I would not have thought of. Most episodes have a joke or two that are grounded in some realm of science or technology that may not be completely clear to the masses but do work in general too. Last weeks episode had two that not everyone would pick up on completely.
The first was a joke about research data and statistical analysis. The comment was: "I heard about your experiment, 20,000 data runs and no statistically significant results, way to go!" Of course he was being sarcastic he was basically saying big experiment and the data results don't work to prove or disprove his theory. Yes it was not the roll on the floor comedy but it was funny and I was excited I knew the full meaning.
The second joke was when Sheldon was climbing a rock wall and stopped because of being afraid of heights. He said "I fell like an inverse tangent function approaching an asymptote." They guy he was with said "Are you saying you are stuck." And Sheldon's reply to that was "What part of an inverse tangent function approaching an asymptote don't you understand?" This one was funny especially with the actors delivery but I was also again very happy I knew what they were talking about. At the end of the show there is always that Chuck Lorre Productions white screen with some writing on it. I have paused it a few times to read and things time I noticed they had the inverse tangent function graphed with an explanation. Well this I thought was really funny. So I though there must be a website where you can read these. Someone out there I am sure put them on the Internet. So with one quick search I found the website. Chuck Lorre Productions Vanity Cards; and the one from this show was #238. Isn't the Internet just great!

It is time #1 - 300

I want to lose weight. I have been thinking about it a lot for about a year now. I don’t just want to lose weight though. I feel very week at times; hauling my ass up stairs or having to move boxes or furniture. I can just tell that I don’t have the strength that I once had not all that long ago. I know when I was in the military I did not led the healthiest life but I did a lot of physical activity while working plus I worked out more than I do now. That lifestyle from the military followed me for the next eleven years, all except the physical activity and working out. That now makes fifteen plus years where I mainly ate fast food or at chain restaurants and made the usual bad choices on what to eat. During the last eleven years with the exception of a few month spurts here and there I have been very inactive and the combination has caused me to go from 186lbs at the end of my last deployment to 300lbs now today.

Here are two pictures of me from the last month in the military around October 1997.

From Photos of me... through time and space

From Photos of me... through time and space

My hope is that this public display of my current status and the public announcement to make at least one update a month on my progress or lack of progress however it goes will be some extra motivation to at least try to make some progress each month. I say each month because I plan to try to change my lifestyle not go on a diet and workout some and that progress may be slow at time so to keep myself from not seeing progress I am only going to weigh myself once a month on or around the 10th of each month.

Here is a picture of me today. I am not comfortable posting this picture but again this is supposed to be bad that is the point right; more motivation for me.

From Photos of me... through time and space

Christmas at Dad's

Well we had another Christmas at my Dad's house. I had a great time. There was a lot of family here, 12 people and two young kids. Everyone gets along very well and everyone is pretty close with each other. It was like a cooking factory once everyone was here and the food was on in no time. The food was good, as it usually is. The prime rib was excellent. Most of the side dishes had a lot of pepper in them and they were good.

After dinner, we skipped dessert of course, we moved right into presents. I am the young single one so I passed out presents but as usual I am slow and Dad helped out for the second half. The benefits was everyone got to watch me open my presents at the end. Well kind of a benefit any way. I got a lot of really good stuff and I believe everyone was very happy.

It was nice to see everyone again. I was just here for Thanksgiving but there were more people here tonight. It would be nice to be back in Dallas again to be able to see everyone again all the time. I will see what fate brings with the selling of the house and everything else that is now going on in Nashville.

Everyone have a nice Christmas day and New Years eve.

Here are some pictures from tonight.

christmas at Dad's house 2008

Christmas Gifting

This years Christmas gifts are slim but are handy gifts. I like to give handy gifts. I get to pawn off other peoples larger gifts to get those people accessories that they really need; even if they don't know they need it yet. I really like shopping for Christmas gifts; although I tend to know exactly what to get but it costs way too much. When I have to find a lower priced option I sometimes quickly run out of ideas. If I do find the perfect low priced gift I always feel like that is not enough. This year I am going to try and resist that urge. With all the things going on this year things are a lot tighter for me. I also did not do what I say every year I am going to do; which was to find the perfect gifts online (Amazon is great) and slowly buy over a few paychecks; instead of just the one before Christmas. All in all I like the gems I have found this year and I believe everyone will like what they get. Oddly enough after years of not knowing what to get her I have found many things that would be perfect this year. Oh well, good timing is just not something I have; it seems. c'est la vie.

Have an Merry Christmas.